The Tesla Model X, an all-electric crossover SUV, is creating some problems for venture capitalist Byron Deeter, who is one of the first owners. Initially, Deeter was proud to own his electric vehicle, but now, it has been reduced to little more than an expensive driveway ornament, says Fortune.
Many issues with Tesla Model X
Deeter is now driving his 2011 Jeep Rubicon to work as his Tesla Model X has had a series of software glitches. Deeter — a partner with Bessemer Venture Partners — explains that the electric vehicle had a handful of what he would call acceptable tech glitches earlier, like a detection problem with the falcon-wing doors.
“But in the past couple of days it’s gotten to where I think there are safety and usability issues,” he explained.
The first problem, according to Deeter, is that the driver-side door is not opening from the outside, so he has to first open the passenger door and then reach across. However, then the driver-side door was not closing. Deeter says he could manually close it, but the Model X was not able to sense that the door was shut, so the electric control would not latch.
“Yesterday, I literally drove to a meeting holding the door closed,” Deeter said.
Later, the problem was solved when he power-cycled the system of the car, but it started again.
With one hand on the driver-side door, he resigned himself to another day of driving, but just as he backed out of his driveway, the emergency brake automatically started engaging. After driving a few feet, he would be forced to stop, put the car in park, and reverse, but then it started again. Also the driver-side window would no longer close all the way — just to make things even worse.
Deeter, who has made early investments in tech companies such as Cornerstone OnDemand and Box, says, “It think all of this is theoretically a software issue, but maybe it’s combination of that and the sensors also failing.”
Not the first complaint
Deeter sent emails to three different customer service addresses listed on Tesla’s website because there does not seem to be any roadside assistance option on the car’s computer, but he has yet to get a reply. He also made a phone call but was told that the automaker is booked up for service issues through the third week of May.
Deeter is not the only one to have problems with his Tesla Model X. The message boards are flooded with complaints from Model X owners, particularly with issues with the falcon-wing doors, reported Consumer Reports on Tuesday.
